Device for marking locations at sea, particularly emergency marker



April 1963 F. A. LUNENSCHLOSS 3,084,354

DEVICE FOR MARKING LOCATIONS AT SEA, PARTICULARLY EMERGENCY MARKER FiledJune 12, 1961 INVENTOR 1 74222 A. lz'z'nerzscblos:

A TT/S.

3,084,354 DEVICE YOK MARKTNG LOCATIONS AT SEA, PARTICULARLY EMERGENQYMARKER Franz A. Liinenschioss, Wethersfield, (1onn., assignor to FranzLunenschloss G.rn.b.H., Schilderand Signalgeratefabrik, Unkel (Rhine),Germany Filed Tune 12, 1961, Ser. No. 116,567 Claims priority,application Germany June 14, 1960 5 Qiairns. ((11. 9-8) This inventionrelates to a device for marking locations at sea, and refers moreparticularly to an emergency marker, for marking places at sea whereaccidents have occurred or for marking the position of shipwreckedpeople.

Various kinds of markers or the like have been employed to make iteasier to recognize persons or objects on the surface of the water. Forinstance, lifejackets have been given a striking bright color or havebeen fitted with bags of coloring agents which, when the bags are tornopen and stain the surface of the water for a considerable area around.It is also known to use rocket lights or lamps lit by a seawaterbattery. A disadvantage of devices of this nature is that they run down,or become exhausted, after they have been used once or several times andwhen once run down, are rendered useless. The marking or indicatingdevice or the like is often used at a bad time, in the mistaken beliefthat salvation is at hand, and when a real chance of being saved occurs,the device has been used and cannot be re-used. Other marking or warningor indicating devices take the form of the flat floating parts, thesurface of which is provided with reflecting surfaces. Devices of thiskind are always ready for use, do not require any maintenance and do notlose their ability to mark a place at sea for a long time, but they lieflat on the water and are therefore often very diflicult to pick outfrom an aircraft, particularly when the sea is even slightly choppy, forthe foaming crests of the waves make it diflicult to distinguish betweenthe device and the sea.

The present invention relates to a device for marking locations at seawhich can be picked out much more easily, and for a much longer time,than known devices, even though the sea may be rough or stormy. Thewarning or marking or indicating device according to the inventioncomprises two parts which are adapted to move relatively to one another,the first part being adapted to float and support the second part. Thesecond part is also a buoyant member and is so mounted relatively to thefirst part that, because of the buoyancy of the water operative on thesecond part, the two parts remain in a state in which they are as farapart from one another as they can be so that the buoyant member canextend fairly high above the surface of the water. Advantageously, thetwo parts are guided telescopically one within the other. The first partcan be a tube adapted to float. Preferably, the second part is a floatin the form of a tube or rod and is slidable in the first part. A deviceis therefore provided which is unsinkable and uncapsizable and which,once thrown into the water and without requiring any furthermanipulation, automatically takes up a position marking the location.When the device is not in use, its two parts are pushed one inside theother. The device when floating in the water is extended automatically,for instance, to twice its original length, the device acting as a sparwith its top end projecting far above the water surface. The two partsare moved apart from one another by the force of the water, the buoyantpart being pushed by the water out of the first and floating part.Conveniently, the top end of the extended part takes the form of anoptical or Patent which inhibit downward pressure.

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electrical reflector. Since such reflector is high above the water, itis easier to distinguish from the foaming crests of the waves. Theadvantage of the device according to the invention is that it does notrequire any maintenance in storage or in use. It consists of two simpleelementsi.e., tubes or rodswhich can be of stable construction. When notin use the tubular or rod-like buoyant member is disposed inside theouter part and is therefore protected against damage. The spar-likedevice takes up little space, can readily be stacked and can readily beplaced to hang in all parts of a ship. Each part of the device floats onits own. No extra mechanical, pneumatic or similar means are needed tomove the two parts apart. The buoyance of the water is sufficient toextend the device. The device according to the invention, being ofsimple design, is cheap to manufacture, and it always remains operative.

The projecting end of the device according to the invention can bearranged to act as an optical or electrical or acoustic device. Anoptical effect can be provided, for instance, by using fluorescentpaints and/or reflecting foils. The spar can therefore be recognized indaylight, and even at night it stands out very clearly in a searchlight.If required, the extensible part of the device can also be provided withpyrotechnic i-lluminants or devices. Very advantageously the top of theextensible part takes the form of an antenna or of a radar reflector. Tothis end, the extensible part can be provided with an appropriate metalcovering sufiicient to produce pulses on a radar screen. Since the topof the spar-like device is fairly high above the water surface, theradar pulse reflected back from this spar can readily be distinguishedon a radar screen from the ordinary pulses produced by waves. Also, thefact that the top is at a distance above the water surface ensures thatthe device can be picked up by radar. In special cases transmitters canbe provided in the bearing part or in the extensible top part of thedevice, the extensible part being provided with a Whip antenna or thelike.

The two parts of the device according to the invention can be embodiedin a wide variety of ways. Advantageously, the part which bears theextensible part is made floatable by means of a buoy element surroundingthe part. Conveniently, the bottom end of the bearing tube is formedwith apertures or perforations or the like The bottom end of the bearingmember can be weighted so that the complete device'i.e., the sparismaintained substantially vertical to the water surface. The tubular orrod-like floating member slidable in the bearing member can be guidedtherein by means of collars. The sliding movement is limited byabutments. Conveniently, a grip, preferably in the form of a holdingring, is provided on the floatable bearing member at the top end thereofwhich just projects above the surface of the water. Conveniently, thefloating member, which is a displaceable buoyant member, takes the formof a long spar in the form of a rod. The top end of the spar rod can beenlarged and can have, for instance, the shape of a sphere or of acylinder larger than the rod or of some other balloonlike shape. Aspherical shape provides an adequate radiation surface for the purposesof optics and radar.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof by way ofexample, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device shown in its collapsedinoperative condition,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown as floating inwater with the signal part thereof buoyantly elevated, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view partly broken away andpartly shown in section of the device in its signalling position,showing the buoy element at the upper end of the first part or lowermember with the inner or second part buoyantly elevated and coactingabutments on the two parts for limiting movement of the second partrelative to the first part.

The marking or indicating or warning device 1 according to the inventioncomprises two relatively movable parts 2, 3. These parts are adapted toslide telescopically one within the other. The part 2 supports the part3 and can be a tube made of an appropriate substance such as metal orplastic or the like. Such tube has at its top end a buoy element 4 whichenables the tube 2 to float. At its bottom end, the tube 2 is formedwith apertures 5 through which the water can pass. Conveniently, theapertures are staggered and have a stabilizing effect, damping turningmotions and inhibiting downward thrust caused by the wind. The bearingtube 2 can therefore float on its own and be borne by the Water. Thebottom part of the tube 2 can be provided with a weight 6 to bring thecenter of gravity into a low position, thus ensuring that the deviceremains in a vertical position. V

Conveniently, the other moving part 3 of the device 1 is a tube or rodand is adapted to slide lengthwise in the part 2, being guided bycollars "7 and 8 thereon. A top abutment 9 for the collar 8 is providedinthe bearing part 2 and the sleeve 6 which serves as a weightconstitutes a bottom abutment for the collar 7. The part 3 is formed asa float and can be made of any appropriate substance which floats. Thepart 3 can be prepared directly from a pressed substance which canfloat, such as the plastic known as Styroper, or from pressed cork withor without a metal or similar reinforcing core. The important thing isthat the floatable part 3 is of such buoyancy that, when the device isplaced in the water, the part 3 moves automatically in the part 2 and isalways maintained in the top position by the buoyancy of the water. Thepart 3 can therefore take the form of an air-tight closed tube which canbe made of metal or of a light unbreakable and very transparent plastic.The top end of the extensible part 3 has a reflector 1! which actsoptically and also responds to radar. The top end of the part 3 can beof any shape; it can be of the same thickness as the part 3.Alternatively, a ballon-like or spherical top 11 is provided which issubstantially hollow, to keep the center of gravity of the completedevice as low as possible. The reflector 10 or the top 11 can beprovided with a reflecting covering of metal or-with a reflector foil.The top of the part v3 can be so devised as to act as an antenna for atransmitter or the like provided in the bottom end of the part 3.

Conveniently, the underpart 2 of the device has a grip 12 in the form ofa peripheral holding ring. The buoy element 4 carried by the tube 2 canalso be provided with holding loops or the like. If required, the deviceaccording to the invention can comprise three parts, the underpart 2having a downwardly movable part to increase the stability of the wholedevice. The downwardly movable part acts as a centerboard and can bereleased for descent by a catch which can be operated automatically whenthe buoyant member 3 rises.

The device according to the invention can be used for marinerequirements. It is of use not only for emergencies at seat but at aradar reflector spar for anti-collision protection. For instance, thedevice can be set up on the deck of sailing craft or small ships lessthan 45 meters long for the purposes of optical or radar location in fogor the like. Where required for emergencies at sea, it can be stored onthe deck of passenger vessels or other ships. Devices according to theinvention can be coupled together to improve the reflecting effect, inwhich case the spar according to the invention may be buoyant enough forpeople to cling to the buoy element.

The device according to the invention can be of use in a wide variety ofsizes. Depending upon the purpose for which it is to be used, theprojecting spar can be about 5 meters in height or more. As a rule, aheight of the top part of from two to three meters above the surface ofthe water will probably be s-utficient for the spar to show up clearlyon radar in the case of an emergency at sea.

What is claimed is:

1. Device for marking locations at sea comprising a first and secondpart which can move relatively to one another, the first part beingadapted to float and support the second part, and the second part beinga buoyant member over its entire length and which is so mountedrelatively to the first part that the buoyant member is extended fromthe first float part by the buoyancy of the water acting on the secondpart.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts are cylindrical overtheir entire lengths and are telescopically guided one within the other,the first part being a tube, while the second part is a tubular rod-likefloat slidingly mounted in the first part.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts are cylindrical overtheir entire lengths and are telesoopically guided one within the other,the first part being a tube, while the second part is a tubular rod-likefloat slidingly mounted in the first part, a buoy at the upper end ofthe first part to render the first part floatable and the lower end ofthe first part having openings therein below the second part for theentrance of water to raise the buoyant second part.

4. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts are cylindrical overtheir entire length and are telescopically guided one Within the other,the first part being a tube, while the second part is a tubular rod-likefloat slidingly mounted in the first part, spaced collars on the secondpart for guiding its movements in the first part, and abutments at thetop and bottom of the first part for limiting movements of the secondpart.

5. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts are cylindrical overtheir entire lengths and are tele scopically guided one within theother, the first part being a tube, while the second part is a tubularrod-like float sliding mounted in the first part, spaced collars on thesecond part for guiding its movements in the first part, and abutmentsat the top and bottom of the first part for limiting movements of thesecond part, the first part being open at the bottom and the abutment atthe bottom of the first part being set therein and tubular to allowentrance of water to the part to raise the second part and constitutinga stabilizing Weight for the device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS650,298 Brennen May 22, 1900 8833,0 40 Mott Mar. 24, 1908 1,374,943Melvin Apr. 19,1921 2,418,549 De Rugeris Apr. 8, 1947 2,716,758 HajecateSept. 6, 1955 2,819,476 Dodge Jan. 14, 1958

1. DEVICE FOR MARKING LOCATIONS AT SEA COMPRISING A FIRST AND SECONDPART WHICH CAN MOVE RELATIVELY TO ONE ANOTHER, THE FIRST PART BEINGADAPTED TO FLOAT AND SUPPORT THE SECOND PART, AND THE SECOND PART BEINGA BUOYANT MEMBER OVER ITS ENTIRE LENGTH AND WHICH IS SO MOUNTEDRELATIVELY TO THE FIRST PART THAT THE BUOYANT MEMBER IS EXTENDED FROMTHE FIRST FLOAT PART BY THE BUOYANCY OF THE WATER ACTING ON THE SECONDPART.